Walk & Talk: Natural regeneration and deer management at Kinveachy Forest with Seafield & Strathspey Estates

Strathspey Estate is situated within the Cairngorms National Park. It includes spectacular scenery, stretching from the magnificent River Spey, through farmland and Scotland’s ancient Caledonian Pine Forest to the heather-clad moors beyond. As well as timber management, the estate supports 40 livestock farm tenancies and 38 residential tenants.

Within Strathspey Estate, Kinveachy Forest is an ancient pinewood situated in the middle reaches of the River Dulnain, west and southwest of Carrbridge in Badenoch & Strathspey. Historical records show that parts of the site regenerated naturally until the 1860s, after which there was a mixture of planting and natural regeneration. In total, 5326ha are designated as a SSSI because of the valuable and extensive ancient pine forest and moorland habitats that provide feeding and nesting areas for protected bird species, rare invertebrates, lichens and flowering plants. Of these, 2850ha centred on the pinewood are designated as an SAC and an SPA.

Over the past 20 years regeneration of the forest has taken place using natural processes and in the presence of a managed deer herd. This involved close cooperation with agencies, annual monitoring surveys and considerable effort from the estate’s staff in carrying out three deer counts each year and achieving cull targets in challenging conditions. 

Members are warmly invited to join this Walk & Talk which will be led by Will Anderson, CEO of Seafield & Strathspey Estates. We’ll also be joined by key stakeholders who have supported the work at Kinveachy — and been key to what has been achieved to date — including Scottish Forestry, NatureScot, the Spey Catchment Initiative and CNPA.

The following key topics will be covered in the programme: 
•    The various stages of the project, how the project developed, how it was financed and the roles of different stakeholders
•    Progress of natural regeneration — what has been learned
•    Implications for other land management activities — including management of designated sites, woodland management, herbivore management, predator control, and what this has meant for the estate/implications for costs and revenue
•    Managing the woodlands for capercaillie and work with the Cairngorms Capercaillie Project
•    The role Kinveachy has played in education and community engagement
•    Future land management activities and opportunities; eg. carbon and biodiversity

This event is free of charge to SLE Members, but booking is essential through the SLE website.

Additional event information

Format: Participants will gather at the Carrbridge Car Park at 10:00 where we will get into a smaller number of 4WD vehicles and drive to the start point at Kinveachy Keeper’s Base where there will be tea and coffee. The Walk & Talk will open with short introductions to Kinveachy, the history of management activities on the land and the origins of the natural regeneration and nature restoration projects before we head out to see nature recovery on the ground at Kinveachy.

Lunch: A sandwich lunch will be included as part of the programme. 

Clothing: This event will take place outdoors so please bring suitable clothing and footwear.

Booking information: Booking is essential. To secure your place please book online today.

Meeting point: Carrbridge Car Park PH23 3AA